Powder dispenser



0 1938- E. w. KOERNER 2,128,488

POWDER DISPENSER Filed J n- 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2. I v INVENITOR' EMIL W. KOERNER ATTOR NFY Aug. 30, 1938.

E. KOERNER POWDER DISPENSER Filed Ja n. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR EMIL W. KOERNER BY ATTORNEY FIG.4.

Patented Aug. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES PATET ace mmi i'iiimm Emil W. Koerner, St. Innis, Mo.

Application January 6, 1938, Serial No. 183,594

8 Claims. This invention relates generally to dispensers for tooth powder and the like and more specifically to such devices which are adapted to be operated by movement of tooth brushes against parts thereof to cause predetermined amounts of tooth powder to be deposited on the tooth brushes, the predominant object of the present invention being to provide an improved dispenser of the type mentioned which because of its unique and improved construction and arrangement is capable of performing its intended function in an improved and highly eflicient manner.

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the improved dispenser showing a tooth brush! in association therewith as said tooth brush appears when being moved into cooperative relation with respect to the improved dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the improved dispenser illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the improved dispenser showing same partly in elevation and partly in vertical section and taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lower portion of the dispenser showing same as it appears when being operated with the aid of a tooth brush.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. g

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on line l-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the lower portion of the dispenser and showing a tooth brush cooperatively associated therewith which is provided with a sanitary embracing element- Fig. 9 is a perspective of a 40 modified form of the tooth brush-receiving member of the improved dispenser.

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the sanitary tooth brush embracing element illustrated in section in Fig. 8. v

Fig. 11 is a perspective illustrating a plurality of the improved dispensers arranged in unitary form for family use.

In the drawings, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, several embodito '7 inclusive, the improveddispenser generally. The dispenser A includes a container I which is adapted to receive a supply of. powder to be dis-: 55 pensed, said container being provided with a ments of the invention A designates in Figs. 1

removable top 2 which may be removed when it is desired to introduce powder into thecontainer I. At its lower end the container I includes a bottom member 3 which therewith a horizontally ment 4, said tubular element has formed integral disposed tubular elebeing provided with an externally screwthreaded rear end portion which is screwthreadedly received by a suitable bracket 5 for supporting the. dispenser.

The

bracket 5 is provided with slots 5 (Fig. 1) which are open at the lower edge of the bracket, said slots being adapted to of the screws,

portions be slipped over projected nails, or other suitable fastening devices behind the head thereof so as to attach the bracket 5 to a support with which the fastening devices are associated. The bottom memberv 3 of the container curved formation as shown 2 and 3 and at the point where the bottom Figs.

is of downwardly to good advantage in member 3 .merges into the tubular element 4 a cavity 6 is formed which is provided with a wall that also curves downwardly.

The cavity 6 comelement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At a point intermediate its opposite ends the plunger is of substantially reduced diameter for a portion of the length of the plunger as indicated at 8, such arrangement resulting in the formation in the plunger structure of apart shoulders El and larger diameter portions of diameter portion of said plunger.

smaller a pair of opposed, spaced In at the points where the the plunger join the In its lower portion the tubular element 4 is provided with an elongated narrow slot into an opening I2, l2 preferably being greater than the width of the slot and said'opening l I which merges the diameter of said opening being located immediately to the rear of the rearmost portion of the opening 6' previously I The plunger I at its rear end mentioned herein.

is provided with a rearwardly projected, screwthreaded extension 13 (Fig. 2) which passes through an opening formed in the upper portion of a substantially L-shaped element M which forms a part of the tooth brush-receiving member I5 of the improved dispenser.

The L-shaped element referred to includes a vertical portion whichextends through and moves longitudinally of the slot.,ll, said vertical portion being provided .with the .opening through which the screwthreaded extension 13' passes, and a horizontal portion in which an elongated opening i8 is formed. The L-shaped element is secured to the plunger by a nut- I? which is mounted on the screwthreaded extenwings W the vertical portion of the L-shaped element M of the tooth brush-receiving member it has secured thereto by solder or otherwise a section of stifi wire H9 or other suitable material which is bent in U-shaped fonnation. The bridge portion of the- U-shaped wire element i 9 contacts with and is secured to the rear face of the vertical portion of the L-shaped element M and the opposed legs and said U-shaped element extend forwardly from said bridge portion, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. l, with the forward end portion of said legs bent outwardly to facilitate passage of a tooth brush therebetween. The entire tooth brush-receiving member is urged forwardly by an expansible coil spring 2@ which is arranged with the rear portion of the tubular element d with its opposite ends in contact with the nut ii and a part of the bracket 5, respectively (Fig. 2).

The plunger 1 has formed therein a screw.- threaded opening 2! and screwed into this opening is the lower end portion of a vertically disposed rod 22, said rod being bent over at its top as shown at 22' in Fig. 2. Surrounding the rod 22 and resting on the top portion of the plunger i is a collar 23 and supported by said collar is a powder agitator or sifter 2d. The agitator 24 comprises a control portion in which an opening is formed through which the rod 22 extends and projected radially from the central portion is a plurality of arm portions 25 which at their outer ends are bent upwardly to provide vertically extended portions'25'. In addition to the upwardly extended portions 25' the arms 25 of the agitator which extend forwardly and rearwardly of the container i are provided with oppositely extended lateral portions 26, and also these forwardly and rearwardly extended arms are twisted as indicated at 21 to provide said arms with horn-like portions. Additionally the agitator includes outwardly extended and downwardly and inwardly curved arm. portions- 28, the downwardly and inwardly curved portions of these latter arms contacting with the curved face of the cavity 6 at the bottom of the con-' tainer I.

In the use of the device illustrated in Figs. 1

to 7, inclusive, the bristles of a tooth brush B are first made wet and the brlstled end of the tooth brush is introduced into the tooth-brush-receiving member, with the bristles of the tooth brush interposed between the opposed wings l8 of the tooth brush-receiving member and the opposed legs of the wire element l9 associated with said tooth brush-receiving member. At this time the forward end face of the handle of the tooth brush is in contact with the vertical portion oi the L-shaped element M of the tooth brush-receiving member l5, and movementof the tooth brush rearwardly of the device will impart like rearward movement to the tooth brush-receiving member. The plunger 1 is secured to the tooth brush-receiving member I 5 hence the plunger will be moved rearwardly with the tooth brush receiving member and as a result of such movement of the plunger the powder which passes through the opening 8' into the tubular element 4 in the space between the shoulders 9 and III of the plunger will be moved rearwardly of the tubular element and will be discharged on the upturned bristles of the tooth brush through the opening l2 formed in the lower portion of said tubular element as shown in Fig. 4. It is important to note that the lower portions of the wings lb of the tooth brush-receiving member l5 closely engage the upper portions of bristles of the tooth brush, said wings diverging slightly as they extend upwardly to points where they contact with the tubular element d (see Fig. 5). Because of this arrangement the powder discharged through the opening i2 is confined so that it may not be spilled from the brush and the entire body of discharged powder is deposited on the upturned bristles of the brush. Also because of the presence of. the opposed forwardly extended legs of the U-shaped wire element i9 between which the bristles of the brush are introduced proper cooperative relation of the brush with respect to the brush-receiving member i5 is assured.

When the plunger 7 moves rearwardly in response to movement of the brush-receiving member it, the rod 22 and the agitator 24 move through the container 8 with said plunger, and because of the construction and arrangement of said agitator the powder within the lower portion of the container will be thoroughly agitated by said agitator so as to prevent packing of said powder. Efficient agitation of the powder is obtained in the use of the unprovided powder dispenser because the arm portions 25 and 25' move close to and at times in contact with the bottom and side walls of the container thus preventing the powder from clinging to and packing at said walls. Also the arm portions 28 which are disposed in the cavity t efliciently agitate the powdeer in said cavity and prevent packing of powder I at the wall of the cavity by moving close to and in contact with said well. Additionally the twistedportions 27 of the agitator serve to subject the agitator to slightly oscillatory movement about the rod '22 as the curved faces of. said twisted portions are forced through the powder within the container when the agitator moves with the plunger 17.

If desired a plurality of the improved dispensers may be assembledin unitary form and supported'by a common bracket as shown in Fig. 11, wherein A A, and A designate the different dispensers and 30 designates the common bracket by which they are supported. This arrangement is important insofar as sanitation is concerned as each member of a family may have his individua l dlspenser.

Also forisanitary reasons when a number of persons employ the same dispenser each of such persons maybe provided with an individual covering element II for the bristle portion of his tooth brush'ss shown in Figs. 8 and 10. This element is made of Celluloid or like material and comprises a bottom wall 3!, opposed side walls 3| and an end wall 3|, the side, and end walls being integrally connected with the bottom wall but said end wall being unattached to said side provided with upwardly walls. By preference the side walls are ofiset as shown in Fig. 10. Also, if desired, the bottom wall may be provided with a tab 3| having an opening formed therein and a string (not shown) may be attached to the tab and to the associated tooth brush, at the opening B thereof, for permanently connecting a user's element 3| to his tooth brush. When the elements 3| are employed the wings l8 and the U-shaped wire element l9 are dispensed with and instead the tooth brushreceiving member is made as shown in Fig. 9. In other words said tooth brush-receiving member includes an L-shaped element l4 which includes a vertical portion 32 and a horizontal portion 33, and the horizontal portion is provided with upstanding wings 34 that extend longitudinally of the opposite side edges of said horizontal portion.

As shown in Fig. 8 the upper portions of the wings 34 are bent inwardly at their upper ends to conform to the ,shape of the side walls of the element 3|.

When one of the elements 3i is employed in the use of the improved dispenser said device is applied to the bristled end of the brush so that it enclosed said bristled end of the brush, the top portions of the side walls of the element when so applied to a brush extending upwardly above the tops of the bristles as'shown in Fig. 8. The brush with the element applied thereto is then introduced between the wings 34 of the tooth brush-receiving member until its end abuts against the vertical portion of the L-shaped element i4 whereupon the dispenser may be operated in the manner previously explained. When tooth brushes of several individuals have the elements 3| applied thereto no part of the bristle portions of the tooth rbrushes contact with the tooth brush-receiving member of the dispenser hence the use of a single dispenser by a number of persons is rendered more sanitary.

If it should be desired the improved dispenser may be operated by pressing the outer extended end portion of the plunger inwardly with the thumb or finger. Also if it be desired to obtain the discharge of powder on the user's hand instead of on a tooth brush the user's hand may be placed beneath the horizontal portion of the L-shaped element of the tooth brush-receiving member and the plunger pressed inwardly whereby the discharge powder will fall through the opening 16 in said horizontal portion of said L-shaped element onto the users hand located therebeneath.

I claim:-

1. A powder dispenser comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath said container, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other and said tubular element having a powder-discharge opening formed in the wall thereof, a plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a. shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubular element for discharge therethough and means located within said container and movable with said plunger for prepowder agitating venting packing of the powder in said container, said agitating means including a rod fixed to and projected upwardly from said plunger into said container, and an element-loosely mounted on said rod which includes radially extended arms 2. A powder dispenser a. tooth brush so that the projected portions at their outer ends.

comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath saidcontainer, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other and said tubular element having a powder-dis.- charge opening formed in the wall thereof, a plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located "within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubularelement for discharge therethrough and powder agitating means located within said container and movable with said plunger for preventing packing of the powder in said container, said agitating means including a rod fixed to and projected upwardly from said plunger into said container, and an element loosely mounted on said rod which includes radially extended arms provided with upwardly projected portions at their outer ends certain of said radially extended arms being twisted to provide spiral porions.

3. A powder dispenser comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath said container, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other through the instrumentality of a cavity which opens into the interior of the container and communicates with an opening leading to the interior of the tubular element, said tubular element having a powder-discharge opening formed in the wall thereof, a plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubular element for discharge therethrough, and powder agitating means located within said container and movable with said plunger for preventing packing of the powder in said container, said agitating means including charge opening formed in the wall thereof, a

plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubular element for discharge therethrough, and a tooth brush-receiving member fixed to said plunger and located therebeneath, said tooth brush-receiving member being adapted to receive bristles of said tooth brush are upturned beneath said tubular element whereby movement of the tooth brush will subject the tooth -brush receiving member and theplungerto like movement whichwill cause powder to be discharged through the powderdischarge opening of the tubular element onto the upturned bristles of the .tooth brush.

5. A powder dispenser comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath said container, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other,

' and said tubular element having a powder-discharge opening formed in the wall thereof, a plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubular element for discharge therethrough, and a tooth brush-receiving member fixed to said plunger and located therebeneath, said tooth brush-receiving member being adapted to receive a tooth brush so that the bristles of'said tooth brush are upturned beneath said tubular element whereby movement of the tooth brush will subject the tooth brush receiving member and the plunger to like movement which will cause powder to be discharged through the powder-discharge opening of the tubular element onto the upturned bristles of the tooth brush, said tooth brush-receiving member being provided with opposed portions between which portions of the bristles of the tooth brush are adapted to hemtroduced and said opposed portions serving to confine the discharged powder so that all thereof falls on the upturned bristles of the tooth brush.

6. A powder dispenser comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath said container, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other, and said tubular element having a powder-discharge opening formed in the wall thereof, a plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided'with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubular element for discharge therethrough,-and a tooth brush-receiving member fixed to said plunger and located therebeneath, said tooth brush-receiving member being adapted to receive a tooth brush so that the bristles of said tooth brush are upturned beneath said tubular element whereby movement of the tooth brush will subject the tooth brush receiving member and the plunger to like movement which will cause powder to be discharged through the powder-discharge opening of the tubular element onto the upturned bristles of the tooth brush, said tooth brush-receiving member being provided with opposed portions between which portions of the bristles of the toothbrush are adapted to be introduced and said opposed portions serving to confine the discharged powder so that all thereoi falls on the upturned bristles of the tooth brush, and said tooth brushreceiving member being provided with opposed aiaaese elements which aid in properly positioning a tooth brush relative to the tooth brush-receiving member.

'7. A powder dispenser comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath said container, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other, and said tubular element having a powder-discharge opening formed in the wall thereof, a. plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening of said tubular element for discharge therethrough, a tooth brush-receiving member fixed to said plunger and located therebeneath, said tooth brush-receiving member being adapted to receive a tooth brush so that the bristles of said tooth brush are upturned beneath said tubular element whereby movement of the tooth brush will subject the tooth brush receiving member and the plunger to like movement which will cause powder to be, discharged through the powder-discharge opening of the tubular element onto the upturned bristles of the tooth brush, and a sanitary element adapted to be arranged in embracing relation with respect to the bristle portion of a tooth brush'received by said tooth brush-receiving member.

8. A powder dispenser comprising a container for powder to be dispensed, a tubular element disposed beneath said container, the interior of said container and the interior of said tubular element being in communication with each other, and said tubular element having a powder-discharge opening formed in the wail thereof, a plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement within said tubular element, said plunger being provided with a shoulder which on movement of said plunger in one direction moves powder located within the tubular element to the location of the powder-discharge opening ofsaid tubular element for discharge therethrough, a tooth brush-receiving meinber fixed to said plunger and located therebeneath, said tooth brush-receiving member being adapted to receive a tooth brush so that the bristles of said tooth brush are upturned beneath said tubular element whereby movement of the tooth brush will subject the tooth brush receiving member and the plunger to like movement which will cause powder to be discharged through the powder-discharge opening of the tubular element onto the upturned bristles of the tooth brush, and a sanitary element adapted to be arranged in embracing relation with respect to the bristle portion of a tooth brush received by said tooth brush receiving member, said tooth brush-receiving member being provided with opposed portions which engage said sanitary element when the toothbrush with which the sanitary element is associated is received by said tooth brush-receiving member.

EMIL W. KOERNER. 

